Malatesta da Verucchio

Malatesta da Verucchio (1212-1312) was the founder of the Italian House of Malatesta and a famed condottiero from Verucchio in central Italy. In 1239, he became Magistrate of Rimini, and he supported the Guelphs against the Holy Roman Emperor. In 1295, he took over Rimini from the Ghibellines, and he reigned until his death in 1312, and his son Malatestino Malatesta became the next lord of Rimini.